I f you are an injured or disabled veteran needing assistance or physical therapy, you can look past the hospital room to find outdoor recreation, thanks to the generosity of many organizations across America.

Here on the Central Coast, the Monterey Bay Veterans Inc. has been providing the gift of sports rehabilitation to veterans since 1987. Some of their services include scuba diving, sport fishing, boating safety and marine environmental education.

One special service is the “Physically Challenged Assistance Program.” This program allows for outdoor recreational venues to be wheelchair accessible for those who would otherwise not be able to attend an event. Transportation, shuttles, vans are provided for the handicapped and physically challenged from parking areas to the venues, such as Laguna Seca and Pebble Beach.

Monterey Bay Veterans offers a recreational rehabilitation program to disabled veterans and wounded warriors in their home ports. These programs show disabled veterans how to maximize both their physical and mental capabilities. The program is officially recognized by VA hospitals and homes throughout the state and has been recognized nationally, said Sam McLeod, vice president of Monterey Bay Veterans.

The group has two special events coming up, and, with the success of past sporting events, I have no doubt that they will be just as popular.

“We have our 18th Annual Wheelchair Rock Cod Derby on September 6. Veterans” homes and hospitals from all over California are scheduled to participate. The derby begins with a Friday dinner. On Saturday, everyone meets for a continental breakfast at 6 a.m. and then boards the vessels. When the fishing is completed, sponsors, participants and volunteers are invited to attend the awards banquet, hosted by American Legion Post 591 in Seaside.

“In addition, we are also preparing for our fourth annual Freedom Tour, which begins September 8. The tour travels to various ports of call up and down the California coast, from Napa and San Francisco all the way to San Diego,” McLeod said.

With every war, there are unique injuries seen and unseen. Sports therapy provides patients with a stress-free option in helping them on the road to recovery. For some, the road is short. For many, the road is long. However with veteran groups like the Monterey Bay Veterans the path doesn”t seem quite so difficult.

I have always believed that some of the best medicine for our newest veterans doesn”t come from a pill bottle. It has come from the companionship and friendship of our veterans of previous wars. Veterans like the Monterey Bay Veterans staff members have served and continue to serve their comrades. Our veterans understand our newest veterans like no other person can.

If you are a veteran more than 40 percent disabled and would like to participate in these events, just go to the Monterey Bay Veterans Web site and sign up, or you may call their office at 646-8324.

“We are a nonprofit organization and we are run by volunteers. Our biggest expense is fuel and maintenance for our 60-foot Pacifica yacht the ”Freedom,” which we use for daily fishing excursions and the ”Freedom Tour.” We are very proud of the fact that we are supported by many veteran organizations throughout the state,” said McLeod.

If you would like to learn more or contribute, see the group”s Web site, www.mbv.org.

Thank you Monterey Bay Veterans for providing many years of invaluable rehabilitation services to our veterans.